Facts have been released, and preventive measures and proper treatment have been offered to prevent the spread of the disease across the vast nation, in a bid to counter fear and over-reaction over SARS.

By April 15, a total of 1,435 SARS cases were reported in nine regions of the Chinese mainland. Of these, 64 patients had died and 1,094 patients -- 76.4 per cent of the reported patients -- had been cured and discharged from hospital.

As of April 14, a cumulative total of 3,169 SARS cases, with 144 deaths, have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from 21 countries and regions.

Entry-exit health advice has been given by the Ministry of Health and the State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine Tuesday to travelers to prevent SARS from spreading into or out of China.

Travellers who come into contact with SARS patients should be immediately disinfected. And if necessary, people who have close contact with SARS patients while travelling will also be asked to remain in hospital for further medical observation.

Meanwhile, people entering China and traffic staff should carefully fill out the entry quarantine application card, and should especially give a clear address and telephone number in China for further contact.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) is stepping up the precaution measures against the spread of SARS, ordering airport staff to stop suspected SARS carriers from boarding flights. Pilots or crew members, who are thought to have SARS symptoms, will also be sent for examinations before being allowed to resume their duties.

If any passenger is found to have SARS symptoms during a flight, crew members are suggested to isolate the passenger immediately, while ensuring other passenger remain in their seats and take protective measures, like masks.

The patient should be sent to a local hospital as soon as the plane lands.

As one of the compulsory measures in stop the spread of SARS, CAAC also ordered all domestic airlines to issue every passenger with mask and sterile gauze to prepare for any uncertainty.

(China Daily April 16, 2003)